GREENSBORO, N.C. — A Greensboro City Council leader is recovering from a health scare that she said nearly took her life.
Marikay Abuzuaiter is back home after spending 33 days in the hospital. She was at the Outer Banks when she experienced incredible pain in her stomach area. It was diverticulitis.
"The diverticula burst and poured toxins into my body which means septic shock, and there are not many people who survive septic shock. So, I'm very blessed, I'm very glad to be here. My work on this earth must not be done," Abuzuaiter said.
While she was in the hospital, Abuzuaiter said it got so bad, that doctors put her in a medically-induced coma for four days.
"I have to thank you my lucky stars, everyone who sent prayers and texts and phone calls, because it really works, it really works because the doctor had actually told my family he wasn't sure I was going to make it," she said.
Abuzuaiter returned remotely on Tuesday to Greensboro City Council after nearly two months. She was welcomed back by applause during roll call.
"The round of applause, I was totally taken aback by that," she said. "I'm getting emotional now, it was like, 'Oh, my heavens.'"
Doctors told Abuzuaiter she should make a full recovery. She said her doctors first discovered her diverticulosis during a colonoscopy years ago. She said to do what Julie Luck has said and to make sure you get your colonoscopy. It could save your life.
What is diverticulitis?
According to Mayo Clinic, diverticula are small, bulging pouches that can commonly form in your colon. The presence of diverticula is known as diverticulosis when one or more pouches become inflamed, and in some cases infected, causing severe stomach pain, fever, and nausea.
Symptoms of diverticulitis include pain, particularly on the lower left side of the abdomen, nausea and vomiting, fever, abdominal tenderness, and constipation.